S1 Ep11: Big Broadway Energy with Stephen Riordan and Janelle Richardson Appearing in Fat Ham

Radio St. Pete Podcast Archive

Big Broadway Energy Podcast – Featuring Janelle Richardson on 'Fat Ham' and Finding Your Voice"

🎙️ Host: Stephen Riordan
🎭 Guest: Janelle Richardson – Actress, Vocal Coach, Entrepreneur

🎧 Episode Summary
In this episode of Big Broadway Energy, host Stephen Riordan sits down with Janelle Richardson, a dynamic actress and vocal coach, to delve into her multifaceted career and her role in the upcoming American Stage production of Fat Ham. Janelle portrays Tedra in this modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, which reimagines the classic tragedy through the lens of a Southern Black family at a backyard barbecue.
Janelle shares her journey from the stage to founding Love Your Voice 101, a vocal coaching business dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace and develop their authentic voices. She discusses the profound impact of live theater on personal and community transformation, offering insights into the challenges and rewards of performing in a contemporary reimagining of a Shakespearean classic.
The conversation also touches on the significance of representation in the arts and the transformative power of storytelling. As the episode concludes, Stephen shares details about the upcoming performances of Fat Ham at American Stage, running from May 28 to June 22, 2025, and announces a new time slot for his Big Broadway Energy radio show (see details below).

🎭 About 'Fat Ham'
Fat Ham is a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by James Ijames that reimagines Shakespeare's Hamlet in a contemporary Southern Black setting. The play follows Juicy, a young queer Black man, who is confronted by the ghost of his father during a family barbecue, leading him to grapple with themes of identity, legacy, and liberation. Directed by Raymond O. Caldwell, this production brings fresh perspectives to a classic narrative.
🎟️ Upcoming Performances at American Stage

• 
  Dates: May 28 – June 22, 2025
  
• Tickets & Info:For more information about Fat Ham and to purchase tickets, visit the official American Stage website: American Stage.
  

To listen to all Big Broadway Energy interviews CLICK HERE
📅 Radio Show Update
Big Broadway Energy is now airing on a new schedule moving from Sunday at 10PM to Sunday at 5PM with an encore on RadioStPete.com on Saturday at 4PM.
ABOUT STEPHEN RIORDAN Stephen Riordan is an arts professional having acted, directed, produced, and written in both in New York and St. Pete for over 25 years. Stephen recently made his American Stage debut in Weird in St. Pete, the first show in their “Beyond the Stage” series playing Peter Demens, the undisputed father of St. Petersburg. He is also in the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. His podcast, “Big Broadway Energy ” highlights up-and-coming artists in our very own community. He is the director of Venus in Fur now playing at the Studio@620 through May 25th.
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